09 March 2015

In Hades

Kai’s family is fractured. So is he. With his parents’
separation all his high achievements mean nothing. He sinks into a world of
despair. Drugs and every other kind of abuse possible is called on to try and
block out what once was. It is on a bad day that he steals the car. The worst
part is that his autistic brother Rod is with him when it crashes.

The story is about what happens to Kai’s soul after the
crash and what he needs to do to redeem himself, to allow it to rest in peace.
His quest through the underworld to find Rod is filled with guilt,
determination, pain and discovery. He meets another lost soul, whom he names
Bilby-G. An anorexic, she too, is on the
same journey through guilt, and together they slowly come to terms with what it
is they’re facing.

Alexander uses her knowledge of Greek myths and
characters with great skill to incorporate allusions to accent her main
characters’ challenges and struggles.

This outstanding verse novel could be seen as Goldie
Alexander’s best piece of work yet. Even the positioning of the text upon the
page is done with careful consideration. This device contributes tremendously
to the overall effect on the reader’s impression of what is being shown. The
fine-line, black and white illustrations by Aaron Pocock perfectly complement
the text.

Themes that flow through the work are those of
self-discovery, family, trust, love, and forgiveness: of others and their human
weaknesses, but mostly of oneself.